Who was a better pharaoh Akhenaten or Ramses II?

Answer 1

It depends on how you define "better."
Akhenaten drastically changed Egyptian religious practice during his reign. There are some scholars who argue that he was little better than a lunatic, obsessed with his "new" religion focused on the Aten to the exclusion of all other deities and that during his reign he did little actual governing. This picture isn't precisely accurate, as the Amarna Letters suggest that he was still active in international politics. A number of people are Akhenaten "fans" because they attribute to him the first "monotheism" in history, but this is another debatable point.
What is clear is that after Akhenaten's reign his monuments were deliberately torn down or covered, his name removed from monuments, and his name removed from later king lists. His reign was regarded as a dark time in Egyptian history that was better forgotten.

Ramses II on the other hand was well remembered after his reign, even after the loss of knowledge of Egyptian hieroglyphics. He had an extremely long, successful reign. He managed to maintain the Egyptian empire, which from the Egyptian persepective at least could be considered a "great work." He erected numerous monuments to himself throughout Egypt and Nubia. Many of his sons were active in government/religion, including Khaemwaset, who undertook a series of restoration projects on the monuments of earlier kings. Ramses is famed for his military prowess (which may be over emphasized, as a careful reading of his account of the Battle of Kadesh suggests that he may not have been the best strategist). A further 9 kings adopted all or part of his name as their own throne names in order to associate themselves with his former power, glory, and long reign, though none of them were quite as successful as Ramses.

On a side note, one of the earlier responders seems to have confused Ramses II with Ramses XI - the last of the Ramesside kings who was probably not buried in the Valley of the Kings, despite having had a tomb prepared there. It's an easy mistake given the increasing number of people who don't know roman numerals, but it should be made clear that Ramses II (2) is a far different person from Ramses XI (11).

Answer 2

Akhenaten probably would be a better choice than Ramses II, though neither of them were very good pharaohs. Akhenaten changed the whole system of religion, by forcing everyone to worship the sun god. He also moved all of the people to a new city in the middle of nowhere. After his death, they went back to their own religion and tried to wipe out evidence of his existence. They did the same with his son, Tutankhamen.

Ramses II would have to be choice for the worse one because he lost large parts of Egypt. Upper Egypt, to be more exact. He was the last pharaoh of the 20th dynasty.

" During the reign of Ramses 11, large parts of Egypt was lost, and towards the last 10 years he ruled over an area no larger than the Nile Delta (Lower Egypt). The consequence was that two new dynasties were formed, one in Upper and one in Lower Egypt. One could say that with Ramses 11 the Egypt of great dynasties comes to an end.
Ramses had a tomb built in the Valley of the Kings, but as he lost Upper Egypt he was never buried here. " Quote taken from http://i-cias.com/e.o/ramses_11.htm .

Answer 3

Oh, Ramesses the Great without a doubt. He lived almost a hundred years. He was unusually tall for an Egyptian and extremely well built. He had a million children and wives. This guy had children DIE in their 70's while he was still Pharaoh. He completely rebuilt Egypt that had gone into severe disrepair, literally crumbling in his hands. He built NEW cities, temples and monuments. He reestablished Egypt's reputation of undisputed greatness. He is generally believed to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus. He ruled Egypt for over 66 years, longer than most people's lifetimes. He took on the Sea Peoples. He took on Syria several times, Nubia, and Libya. After ruling for over 30 yrs he became a God. Ramesses wasn't just a great Pharaoh .... he was one of the greatest world rulers ever. Akhenaten was a weird geek with a strange genetic abnormality who was an even weirder cultist who threw his country into total disarray whose greatest accomplishment was his weirdness.

Answer 4

I believe that Akhenaten was a rouge and after he died they struck his name off all monuments

THe lastest Tombs that they have uncovered in Egypt are tombs from the line of Ramses pharaohs'. Ramses was a warrior pharaoh.

Answer 5

I believe Rameses II was a big patron of the arts. I am a fan of the arts, so I have to go with him.

Answer 6

Yes, but only slightly better.